So, I moved to a bigger property, which has many places to shoot that are no where near a power point for the old fridge compressor. I don't fancy lugging a generator around or dealing with high pressure air, so I made a hand pump.
The pump is a 20mm copper pipe brazed into a 20mm fitting with a custom checkvalve built into that fitting. I aimed for 0 dead volume in the pump to improve efficiency and the maximum pressure that can be reached and think I have got pretty close to achieving that. The piston uses a double floating o-ring with a few ports to aid 'recharging' the pump on the up-stroke.
But pictures are where it's at right?
These (along with image comments) should be detailed enough for anyone else to be able to make their own, lathe recommended.
- Exploded view of check valve internal components.
- Another view of check valve internals.
The ridge half way up the left part is not required, it was used to position the top surface of the checkvalve half way through the 20mm fitting.
- Top view of check valve, the copper tube is soldered in to meet this surface
The copper tube meets this surface and is soldered in place, when the iron reducing fitting is threaded on it sandwiches everything together. This allows for any part to be accessed and serviced if needed in the future. Also while we are at this point, I flared the end of the copper tube ever so slightly as this is not a brazing fitting so is slightly over sized, this shuts off the gap preventing solder from flowing down into the check valve area.
- Piston, showing floating o-ring and cuts/holes acting as the 'recharge' ports. Also showing the end cap
- End cap, acts as a guide to keep the piston and threaded rod square.
- Final assembly
Still need to make a proper handle and foot plate. I have used square sided fittings partly because that it what I had, but also to make fixing to a foot plate easier.
that sounds about right!